‘The Situation is Dire’: Hostilities on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Supplies.

The shockwaves of a war being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's kitchens.

As aerial attacks on Iran hinder energy transports through the Strait of Hormuz, stocks of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are dwindling across India, pushing restaurants to cut menus, close earlier and in some cases cease operations entirely.

Social media is awash with video clips showing lines outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian metros and localities as anxieties over fuel supplies spread. Commercial LPG users appear the hardest struck: the biggest crunch is in restaurant kitchens.

"Conditions are critical. LPG simply cannot be found," says a representative of the a major restaurant body.

Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the scarcities are now being experienced across the country. "Numerous restaurants have shut down - some in Delhi, many in the southern states. People are turning to traditional burners and electronic appliances to keep kitchens going."

Localized Effects

In Mumbai, accounts say up to a significant portion of hospitality businesses are already completely or partially closed as cylinder availability dwindle. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some establishments say their fuel reserves have depleted with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and nothing else - it is extremely difficult. Operations will be impacted," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru.

Restaurant owners are seeking alternatives. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are varying as supplies wax and wane. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a changing landscape."

Retailers report a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Official Position

Yet, the authorities states there is no shortage.

India has more than 300 million household consumers and officials say stocks are being redirected to households as geopolitical strain from the Middle East conflict ripple through energy markets.

About six out of ten of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the strategic bottleneck now largely blocked by the conflict.

The oil ministry says that it directed refineries to boost LPG output for domestic use, enhancing domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being allocated for critical services such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "fair and transparent".

"Unnecessary hoarding and accumulation has been sparked by misinformation. The standard supply timeline for household cylinders remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official.

Growing Panic

Now the concern is moving beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of scooters outside a gas outlet. "Concern is genuine," the text reads.

According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader energy security may be exaggerated.

India imports 90% of its petroleum. Around a significant portion of its crude oil imports - about millions of barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Middle Eastern nations.

Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the gap could be partly offset by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator.

Based on shipping data and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, narrowing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day.

"A large quantity of Russian oil barrels are currently in transit at sea in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

LPG: The Real Vulnerability

The real vulnerability is LPG, experts note.

India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the Strait.

Refineries can adjust processes to extract a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only increase domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports.

In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through diversification. Fuel availability remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to monitor in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just tight supply but patchy deliveries - and the common threat of stockpiling.

An industry representative states price gouging.

"Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold to the highest bidder."

For now, India's petroleum stocks may be protected by global trade flows. But in kitchens across the country, the more pressing concern is simple: how to get the next gas canister.